Cross gable and combination roofs
Two or more gable sections meeting at right angles, creating valleys where the planes intersect. A shape we see constantly on larger Johnson County homes.
- Typical pitch
- Varies by section
- How often we see it
- Very common
Pitch ranges are trade convention, not code. Code sets minimum slope by material, not by roof shape.
Is this your roof?
- Look for more than one ridge line running in different directions.
- Find the valleys — the internal angles where two roof planes meet and water is channeled.
- Most homes with a projecting garage wing, a front-facing dormer, or an L-shaped footprint are cross gabled.
In Johnson County
Valleys carry concentrated water, and Kansas storms deliver rain in short violent bursts rather than steady drizzle. A valley detailed for a gentle climate will overshoot in a downpour here. Ask what the valley treatment is: open metal valleys shed debris and heavy water better than woven shingle valleys, and where a steep plane runs into a shallow one the water speed makes that difference matter.
What you can put on it
Material choice on this shape, and where code rather than preference makes the decision for you.
Asphalt shingles
Works wellStandard. The decision that matters is the valley treatment, not the shingle.
Standing seam metal
WorkableHandsome, but every valley is a fabricated detail and the labor reflects it.
Wood shake
Specialist onlyValleys in shake are demanding and unforgiving. Few crews still do them properly.
What we check first
The failure points that are specific to this shape, in the order a roofer looks at them.
- Every valley, end to end. This is where cross gable roofs leak.
- The dead valley, if there is one — a low or flat spot where two planes meet with nowhere for water to go. These need a membrane rather than shingles, or reframing so water has a path off.
- Step flashing wherever a roof plane runs into a wall, which cross gables have a lot of.
- Debris accumulation in valleys under trees, because a blocked valley backs water under the shingles.
What moves the price
Square footage is a poor predictor on its own. These are the things that actually change the number on this shape.
- Valleys are the single biggest driver. Each one adds cut shingles, valley metal or membrane, and slow careful labor.
- Two houses with identical square footage can differ by thousands if one is a simple gable and the other is cross gabled with dormers.
- More ridge, more hip, more flashing, and usually more gutter and downspout.
- Complex roofs take longer, which raises the chance of weather interrupting the job.
Common questions
Why is my cross gable roof so much more expensive to replace?
Valleys. Each one means cutting every course to the valley line, installing valley metal or membrane underneath, and working slowly enough to get it right. Square footage is a poor predictor of price on a complex roof — the count of valleys, hips, dormers and pitch changes predicts it much better.
What is a dead valley and why does it matter?
A dead valley is a spot where two roof planes meet in a way that leaves water no clear path off the roof, often where a low-pitch section runs into a wall. Shingles cannot be relied on there because they shed water rather than seal against it. A dead valley usually calls for a fully adhered membrane, or a redesign such as a cricket that gives the water somewhere to go. It is one of the most common sources of persistent leaks we get called out for.
Are open metal valleys better than woven shingle valleys?
For this climate, generally yes. An open metal valley gives water a smooth fast path and lets debris wash through. A woven valley relies on layered shingles to carry the same water and holds debris more readily. Both are permitted; the metal detail tends to age better under the volume a Kansas thunderstorm puts through a valley.
More answers on the roofing questions page, or see every roof shape side by side.
Often confused with
Gable
Two planes meeting at a ridge, with a triangular wall at each end. The shape we see most across Johnson County, and the cheapest to re-roof.
Hip
All four sides slope down to the walls, meeting at a ridge shorter than the building. No gable end, and gutters all the way around.
Shed and skillion
A single plane sloping one way, with no ridge. Common on additions, porches, dormers and modern infill homes.
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